Customer Reviews

Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion

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I cannot express how much help I have needed since my abortion that happend two and a half years ago. I still have not completely healed and probably never will, it is something I have to live with forever. I read this book and it gave me assurance of Gods love and forgiveness that helps me get through each day I live. I don't go one day without loving my unborn child. It wasn't my choice, but I was pursuaded by my boyfriend who didn't stay around.

The hot topic these days for those interested in the abortion debate is "post-abortion healing." And for good reason. According to Planned Parenthood's research department some 43 percent of women will have had an abortion by the time they reach 45 years of age. And who better to help women find hope and healing than two who have experienced the tragedy of abortion themselves.

Synda Masse and Joan Phillips, the authors of Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion, are leading the charge to provide women with spiritual renewal following abortion. Their recently-published book is an excellent guide for women seeking to accept forgiveness and reconcile with God.

Masse and Phillips have written Her Choice to Heal in a workbook style that combines helpful advice and choice Biblical passages with writing spaces where a woman can reflect on her own abortion situation and what she's read.

Speaking about women beginning to come to grips with their abortion, they write, "For months and even years, the only apparent truth is that she made the right decision for that time in her life." Yet women eventually find themselves with overwhelming feelings of denial, anger and tremendous guilt. Her Choice to Heal addresses each of these feelings in various chapters.

Masse and Phillips are intimately familiar with abortion decisions. Both are former leaders of the Crisis Pregnancy outreach of Focus on the Family and have previously suffered from abortion's lasting effects.

Despite attending a "private Christian college," Sydna Masse found herself pregnant. She faced a dilemma that seems to typify the desperate situation young women find themselves in -- one that compels them to feel they have no other choice besides abortion.

Her boyfriend threatened to "turn my whole world upside down" if she chose to carry the pregnancy to term. He threatened to divulge her pregnancy and refuse any support for her and her child, to reveal the pregnancy to her mother (who would likely not support her), and to get Sydna kicked out of school. "You'll be on your own! It doesn't look like you have much choice." Sydna chose abortion and began "drowning my feelings with drugs and promiscuity" -- a lifestyle she would unfortunately "continue for many years."

Joan Phillips' story shocks even readers most familiar with tragic abortion experiences. Following a high school romance that turned into a domestic abuse nightmare, Joan made an appointment for an abortion after gathering her two sons and leaving her husband. But no one heard the "silent screams" she cried during the abortion.

Phillips soon begins a sordid affair with a married man. This produced two abortions but millions of heartaches. By day she became a "supermom" to her kids; by night she'd "smoked pot until I couldn't see, cry for no reason until the tears were gone, and wonder what was wrong with me."

This book is not just for those who have a personal abortion experience or know someone who does. Every pro-life activist needs to purchase Her Choice to Heal for the outstanding explanation, in layman's terms, of post-abortion syndrome. We all should have a working understanding of the types of emotional and psychological torment women who have had abortions face. After sharing their personal stories, the authors outline just that in the first chapter.

Joy comes in the mourning. Her Choice to Heal isn't simply a plunge into the roller coaster world of post-abortion emotions. In the final chapters, Sydna finishes her personal story by touching on her newfound Christian life and husband, her work at Focus, and her goal to produce enough "courage to face my emotions and release them" and to "release my long lost baby as well."

The authors define their mission well.

"As two of those who have experienced first-hand the lasting effects of abortion, we believe that Post-Abortion Syndrome does, indeed, exist, but that it can be overcome. To the woman who is struggling, we would like to extend you our compassion -- as well as a supporting arm to guide you along the way to healing through the pages of this book. You are in our prayers as you begin your journey toward peace."

Sydna Masse and Joan Phillips have presented a masterpiece to millions of post-abortive women desperately seeking God's forgiving touch. The brilliant combination of personal testimony, dry facts and Biblical wisdom provides women with a solace many thought they might never find. The book's interactive nature, fostered by the inclusion of "Healing Place" writing spaces for reflection, dramatically enhances women's ability to understand the message and apply it to their own situations.

I encourage you to purchase Her Choice to Heal. If you have had an abortion experience, know someone who has, or simply want to better understand how abortion hurts women and how to help, Her Choice to Heal is a must-read.

This book was the first book I read about women suffering with past abortions. I suffered in silence for over 20 years and after the birth of my son, my suffering became even more intense as I went through all his "firsts" and came face to face with my loss. When I finally had the courage to tell someone my "secret" I was told about this book. It was the first step to healing. Two years ago I attended a post abortion healing group which has helped tremendously. There are so many women suffering from past abortions. If you are suffering in silence there are many resources for you to help you get the courage to find healing.

I read this book several years after going through the Bible study entitled "Forgiven and Set Free" by Linda Cochrane. Its contents reflect the content of the Bible study closely, with personal testimonies from the authors interwoven through the chapters. I counsel women who are struggling with the emotional aftermath of abortion, and I reccommend they read it before beginning the aforementioned Bible study with me. I suppose that neither this book, nor the Bible study, would be extremely helpful if a woman does not consider herself a Christian, since they both address the issue from a Christian, biblical perspective. But it is possible, I suppose, to find some measure of comfort in the knowledge that there are others who understand and share your painful experiences. Our grief, guilt, regret, and shame can be common denominators regardless of our faith or lack therof. Therefore, I highly recommend this book for any woman who is struggling with her feelings connected to a past abortion.

As a twice post-abortive woman, this book was an amazing help to me. Before reading it, I'd felt as though God had done much healing in my heart about my two babies...but I found out He wasn't finished with me yet! Now I believe all the corners of my abortion experiences are swept clean and I know I will be reunited with my daughter and son for eternity, because of the forgiveness possible in Jesus Christ. I wholeheartedly recomend this book!

I run a pro-life ministry and I read this book about 5 years ago. I have seen numerous women suffer the turmoil of having an abortion and after giving them this book, I watched them heal before my eyes. Regret of abortion is real and women need help. This the book to help them!

I took this book with me on a trip with other women to Gatlinburg, TN last spring and experienced a healing that was as much a miracle as anything I've ever experienced. I know that my son is in Heaven and that he is waiting for me there. No sorrow and no sadness -- only love. And for me, and the many thousands of women LIKE me, forgiveness, wholeness and a chance to go on with life! God Bless Sydna Masse and Joan Phillips for bearing their souls and sharing the love of Christ with such as me.

THIS BOOK REALLY HEALED ME A LOT AFTER I CHOSE TO HAVE AN ABORTION AT THE AGE OF 15. THIS IS ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS AND THIS BOOK HELPED ME SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN MY SITUTION.

I know at the time I had my abortion, there was no resources readily available to me...so I was in so much pain without having any idea what was going on...I knew I felt regret, remorseful, and etc....but I didn't know exactly why and why I should allow myself to get out of pain...

Anyways, this helped me find some understanding about why forgiveness is such a hard step and how to...I'm not the same person I was many years ago when I made that choice...And now I'm making a different choice to heal because we all need forgiveness regardless of religion.

Synda is very open with her own story and I appreciate feeling like I can relate to some of her thoughts. I know we've all been taught of how to appear well on the outside but full of pain and shame on the inside - so she makes you feel safe through your journey.

It is sad that so many people do not believe there is such a thing as "post-abortion stress syndrome" when those of us who have experienced an abortion know that there is! This book was wondrously helpful to me, particularly as I pray through the issue as a new parent, and a politically active Democrat. I recommend it to anyone who thinks that a woman should always have a 'choice' to terminate a baby's life, forgetting that there is someone who IS affected by that choice...